Folding extension-ladder.



L. 0. GARRAWAY.

FOLDING EXTENSION LADDER.

APPLICATION FILED DEO. 14, 1912. 1,085,563. Patented .12.11.27, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNTER@ STATES PATENT FQE.

LEE 0. GARRAWAY, OF MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE.

FOLDING EXTENSION-LADDER.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, LEE O. GannawAY, citizen of the United States, residing at Memphis, in the county of Shelby and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Extension- Ladders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to combined eXtension and step ladders, and has for one of its objects to improve the construction and increase the efficiency and utility of devices of this character.

Another object of the invention is to produce a device of this character comprising a plurality of foldable step-ladders which when united and extended form an eXtension ladder.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction as hereinafter shown and described and then specifically pointed out in the claims, and in the drawings illustrative of the preferred embodiment of the invention: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved device arranged as an eXtension ladder. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of the ladder sections folded or collapsed. Fig. 3V is a sectional detail on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. A is a. section of one of the steps or treads on the line tl Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the structure as shown in Fig. 1 with one ladder folded and the other open. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the structure as shown in Fig. 1 with both ladder sections folded.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following ldescription and indicated in all the views of the accompanying drawings by the same reference characters.

The improved device comprises in general aplurality of foldable ladder sections of relatively short lengths which are independently foldable into a small space when not in use and adapted to be united end to end when extended toform an extension ladder. Any required number of the sections may be employed, but for the purpose of illustration two of the sections are shown united end to end. The ladder sections `are precisely alike and each comprises two sides spaced apart a distance equal to the lengths of the treads or steps of the ladder, and as the sides are precisely alike the description of one will suffice for all. Each side com- Specication of Letters Patent.

Application led December 14, 1912. Serial No. 736,809.

Patented J an. @11914.

prises spaced side members lll-11, preferably of wood and of suiiicient size to withsta-nd the strains to which they will be subj ected. At one end the sides 10-11 are connected by a chock or filler piece 12 and are likewise connected at their other ends by a strap or plate 13 bent at the ends into sockets or sleeves 141-15 engaging clos-ely around the upper ends of the side members. The members 10-11 are connected near their upper' ends by a rod 16 which likewise extends through the sleeves 1er-15 and thus firmly unites the sleeves and their connecting plate or strap to the side members. The straps or plates 13 of the various ladder sections are formed with projecting tongues which are rolled into cylindrical forni, as shown at 17, to receive a hinge pint-le represented at 1S, which pintle being enlarged at one end into a. linger grip to enable the pintle to be readily inserted and removed. The plates 13 and their connected sleeves t-hus possess the two fold function of a means for uniting the sides 10-11 of the ladder sections, and likewise as means for hingedly uniting the ladder sections end to end. By this simple means, it will be obvious that a. plurality of the ladder sect-ions may be united end to end to form an eX- tension ladder, while, at the same time, separable to form a plurality of relatively short ladder sections.

Each of the ladder sections is provided with a plurality of steps which are formed to fold inwardly to enable the side members to be disposed side by side in close relation when the ladder sections are folded. The

side members 10-11 may be' of any required length and arranged to receive any required number o-f the folding steps, but for the purpose of illustration each section is shown provided with three sets of the steps, and as the sets are precisely alike the description of one will suiiice for all. A strap or plate 19 is extended across the side members 10-11 where each of the steps is to be located and rolled into sockets or sleeves 20-21 at the ends to bear around the side members in the same manner as the sleeves 11i-15. A tie rod 22 extends through each of the sleeves 20-21 and the portions of the side members inclosed thereby and thus firmly unite the side members. The rods 22 serve the two-fold purpose of intermediate supports for the side members and likewise as supports for the outer ends of the steps.

Each step is formed in two portions hingedly mounted at their outer ends upon lthe rods 22 and hingedly united at their inner contiguous ends, so that the "steps fold upwardly and permit the sides to be disposed in close relation side by side. Each step section comprises a sheet or plate metal shell 23 bent at its edges around a core 24 of wood or like material, the shell structure extending for a relatively short distance over the upper face of the core, as shown at Q5 in Fig. 4. By this means, the steps are reinforced and supported by the wooden core, while, at the'same time, the core is protected from abrasion at the overturned portions Q5. At their outer ends the bottom portions of the shells E23 are turned downwardly as shown at 2G and bear by the downturned portions against the inner faces of the plates or straps 13 and 19 when the step sections are in longitudinal alinement, as shown in Fig. 3. rlhe terminals of the core portions 24 of the step sections are chamfered or beveled to enable the steps to be more readily folded. The rods 22 extend through the cores 24 and the vertical sides of the shells 23 as shown, whereby the steps are hingedly united to the side members 10-11. At their confronting ends the step sections are hinged together, as shown at 27. It will be noted that the hinges 27 are located upon the lowei` faces of the step sections so that when the lat-ter are arranged in longitudinal alinement or end to end, as shown in Fig. 1, the upper portions of the cores 24 and the ends of the shell including the guard portions 25 bear against each other and thus effectually prevent the deflection of the step. The pintles 2S of the hinges 27 are extended rearwardly and connected by a coupling bar 29 so that when one pair of the steps is elevated the remaining steps will be simultaneously elevated therewith and buckled into folding position as hereafter explained.

Pivoted at 30 31, respectively, to the sides 10--11 near one end are brace bars {B2-33. At the ends opposite to the pivots 30-31 the bars 552-33 are longitudinally slotted, as shown at E34- 35, and arranged to be engaged by their slots over clamp bolts 363-37, the latter being tapped into the sides 10-11. By this arrangement, when the ladder sections are disposed in closed position, as shown in Fig. 2, the bars 32-33 slide over each other and move by means of their slots 34-35 over the clamp bolts 13G-37, it being` understood that the nuts of the latter are first loosened to permit this movement. The ladder sections are thus readily foldable By this arrangement, it will be obvious that a plurality of foldable step ladders are provided which may be used separately or united by means of the socket hinges into an extension ladder which may be folded or extended as required. By this arrangement, the ladder sections may be folded without disconnecting, or folded after they are disconnected as may be preferred.

The portion 26 of the step is preferably folded upon itself to produce two thicknesses of the material, to strengthen and reinforce the step structure where the greatest strains occur, as a strong outward strain is produced between the step and the straps 19 when weight comes upon the steps. This is an important feature of applicants device and adds materially to its efliciency and utility without material increase in weight or expense.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In a foldable step ladder, a Vplurality of sections adapted to be arranged end to end and each including longitudinal members spaced apart, a strap extending transversely of each of said longitudinal members at their confronting ends and bent to form spaced sockets adapted to receive the longitudinal members, the material forming the straps being pressed outwardly between the sockets to form hinges, tie rods extending through the sockets and the portions of the longitudinal members inclosed thereby, and steps mounted to 'swing upon said rods.

2. In a step ladder, sides each including longitudinal members spaced apart, a plurality of connecting members each comprising a strap extending transversely over the longitudinal members and bent to form spaced sockets adapted to receive the terminals of the longitudinal members, the material forming the straps being pressed outwardly between the sockets to form hinges, tie rods extending through the sockets and the portions of the longitudinal members inclosed thereby, and steps mounted to swing upon said rods.

In testimony whereof I affix my signatureV in presence of two witnesses.

LEE o. GARRAWAY. [1.. s]

lVit-nesses:

H. V. REID, G. N. CATALAIN.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington. D. C. 

